KALAMAZOO - Derrick Mitchell says his itch to play football never went away.

The Paw Paw native spent 10 years in the grind of minor league baseball and knocked on the door to the big leagues at the Triple-A level before being released by the Atlanta Braves in 2014.

"The whole 10 years through baseball, I would come back every offseason and think, 'Man, I wonder what it would have been like to go pursue a football career,'" Mitchell said. "I see these guys playing in the fall and it would bring back those Friday nights in high school and playing football and being around the guys. I don't think those thoughts ever left me.

"The reality though, when I finally got released by the Braves, now, 'Am I too old to actually go back, or can we make this a go?' That's when I decided to walk on in 2014, so here we are today. It's been a heckuva ride."

At 30 years old, Mitchell is currently the oldest player in the FBS. He is also a skilled specialist for the Western Michigan football team, leading the nation in punts inside the 20 with 30, compared to just two touchbacks.

"He's No. 1 in the country in putting that ball inside the 20, which is a weapon," said WMU coach Tim Lester. "When you give a team a short field, it's hard to stop anybody. But when you make them earn it, it's hard to go 80-plus yards, so he makes our team much better."

As accurate as he has been at finding the "coffin corner," the left-footed Mitchell has unleashed some booming punts this season, including a long of 64. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt junior also handles kickoff duties (13 touchbacks) and is the holder for freshman kicker Josh Grant.

Derrick Mitchell holds for a field goal against Akron at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo on Oct. 15, 2017.(Photo: Nick Buckley/The Enquirer)

"The old guy ... His wisdom is off the charts," Lester said of Mitchell. "He doesn't talk a ton as our punter and our kickoff guy. But when he does, everyone listens, and that's what makes him special... When our 18-year-old kicker goes out there, we've got a 30-year-old to calm him down."

Things are starting to calm down for Mitchell. He's set to graduate in the spring with a degree in business, and he's now a married man after tying the knot with his wife Heather back in August.

"Married life is great. Luckily she supports a 30-year-old husband going to school, playing football and not making any money," Mitchell joked. "All the stress is on her to make those big mortgage payments. Soon enough I'll be able to help out a little bit, but she's been great about it."

Mitchell was a three-sport star at Paw Paw High School, where his father Rick is still the athletic director. He signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Michigan State, but opted to go the professional route after he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 23rd round of the 2005 MLB draft.

Mitchell climbed the ladder between the Phillies and Braves farm systems as an infielder, finishing with a career .240 batting average, 88 home runs, 365 RBIs and 101 stolen bases. The right-hander once went yard on Roy Oswalt, and says the best pitcher he ever faced was New York Yankees closer and likely Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera (he struck out on three cutters).

In this 2008 photo, Lakewood BlueClaws second baseman Derrick Mitchell flips to second for a force out.(Photo: Gannett file)

"A lot of people think baseball isn't that tough on an athlete, but it's every day," Mitchell said. "Once the season starts, it's six months straight of baseball. And you are on your feet a lot. Yeah, you might not be getting hit, but there's a lot of wear and tear.

"When we're doing sprints at the end of practice or when you wake up the next day, you're feeling a little sore and wondering, 'Man, how are those young guys feeling right now, or is it just me?' But no complaints, it's all part of the job and it's been a blast."

Mitchell came to WMU's walk-on tryouts under former coach P.J. Fleck and made the team as a quarterback. He was a 27-year-old redshirt freshman during the 2014 season, when Zach Terrell entrenched himself as the starter under center for what was a record-breaking four-year career for the Broncos. With no real path to playing, the former baseball player offered his talents as a kicker.

Spending 10 years in a sport where failing two out of three times is still considered success, Mitchell learned valuable lessons that he continues to apply to himself and his younger Bronco teammates.

"It all translates — competitive sports," Mitchell said. "Just being positive, just trying to encourage these guys who are young — some 18-, 19-year-olds. Just trying to get them to think about all the good things that can happen when you show up and work hard every day."

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley